Official Statement from Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone: City Council's Approval Vote on $1.6 Billion SFC Project
Yonkers, N.Y. (November 6, 2008) -- The following is an official statement from Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone regarding Wednesday's vote by the Yonkers City Coucil to grant final approval to the $1.6 billion SFC downtown revitalization project.

"Last night the City Council completed its review of the SFC project and, in a strong show of bipartisan support for our ongoing efforts to revitalize downtown Yonkers, voted to approve what will be the most important economic development initiative in our city's history. I want to commend the coalition of councilmembers who voted in favor of the project and in so doing have helped to move Yonkers forward.

"I also want to thank the dozens of business, civic and labor leaders as well as the many Yonkers residents who have come out time and again in favor of this project. Their unwavering support of this and other key economic development initiatives is reflective of the vast majority Yonkers residents who want to see their city continue to grow and prosper.

"In the days and weeks ahead, the City Council and I have more important work ahead of us. We must come to an agreement with the development team on the business terms of this project. And we must do so quickly in order to avoid any further delays in realizing the many tangible benefits this project will bring to the people of Yonkers: thousands of good paying jobs and millions of dollars in new revenues for our municipal and school budgets. As we navigate these tough financial times, we must be mindful that nothing is more important to our city's long term viability than continuing to grow our local economy through good, solid economic development like this SFC project."